Vitali Klitschko quits pugilism for politics: 'My people need me'

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Vitaly Klitschko has received mass adulation in his native Ukraine since announcing his political ambitions

Story highlights

WBC heavyweight champion hints at end of career to fight political battle in Ukraine

The older of the Klitschko brothers has been heavyweight world champion since 2008

The political situation is tense in Ukraine with public protests against current leadership

Klitschko has option to return to the ring and win back title as Champion Emeritus

Protesters on Khreshchatyk, the main street of the Ukraine capital Kiev, have warned of "blood and war" from their position on a barricade made of snow and wood.

Their would-be savior is Vitali Klitschko, a man all too familiar with blood and war during an illustrious boxing career which appears to have finally come to a close with Dr Ironfist announcing his plan to focus solely on politics rather than pugilism.

The older of the Klitschko brothers is not used to losing -- he suffered just two defeats in his 47-fight professional career and has been World Boxing Council heavyweight champion since beating Sam Peter in October 2008.

But the 42-year-old has a bigger fight ahead of him as an opposition leader to current president Viktor Yanukovych, and is seen as the popular choice to lead his country out of its current mire.

Talking about a possible return to the ring, Klitschko, who has been named Champion Emeritus by the WBC, said: "That is something I currently cannot imagine. My focus is on politics in Ukraine and I feel the people there need me."

The heavyweight is seen as the public's political savior in a country where foreign reserves fell 9% last month to $19 billion, with the treasury in the precarious position of having only sufficient funds to stay afloat for a few weeks.

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Photos:Photos: Ukraine protests

Photos:Photos: Ukraine protests

Ukraine protests – Newlyweds Mikhail and Margarita Nakonechniy kiss in front of barricades on Independence Square in a gesture of support for pro-Europe activists in Kiev, Ukraine, on Saturday, December 21. Protesters have poured into the streets of the Ukrainian capital, angered by their government's move away from the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia.

Ukraine protests – A girl wearing a traditional Ukrainian wreath attends an opposition rally in Independence Square on December 17.

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Ukraine protests – A young girl stands next to police officers guarding the presidential offices in central Kiev on December 17.

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Ukraine protests – Protesters sit behind wood bricks in Independence Square on December 17. Written on the bricks are names of Ukrainian settlements whose inhabitants are taking part in the demonstrations.

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Ukraine protests – Flowers are stuck on barriers in front of Ukrainian Interior forces guarding Kiev's administrative district on December 17.

Ukraine protests – Activists warm themselves beside a bonfire as they guard barricades at Independence Square on Monday, December 16.

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Ukraine protests – Pro-EU activists cook during a rally in Independence Square on Sunday, December 15.

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Ukraine protests – U.S. Sens. John McCain, center, and Chris Murphy, right, join Ukrainian opposition leader Vitali Klitschko during a mass rally at Independence Square on December 15. McCain told protesters seeking closer ties with Europe, "The free world is with you, America is with you."

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Ukraine protests – An estimated 200,000 pro-EU activists gather during a rally in Independence Square on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – People sing, shout slogans and wave Ukrainian and EU flags during a mass rally in Independence Square on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – Pro-EU activists wave flags around the monument to the founders of Kiev during a rally in Independence Square on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – A couple of pro-EU activists share a tender moment at a tent camp in Kiev on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – Pro-EU activists, one waving the EU flag, gather during a rally in Kiev on December 15.

Ukraine protests – A protester shouts slogans and waves a flag of the Batkivshchyna party during a protest near the Ukrainian Security Service building in Kiev on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – Ukrainian opposition supporters gather at a mass rally in Kiev on December 15.

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Ukraine protests – Demonstrators by the thousands rally in Independence Square on Saturday, December 14.

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Ukraine protests – People go through a police line separating the competing rallies of opposition protesters in Independence Square and supporters of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev on December 14.

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Ukraine protests – Supporters of the president wave flags of the ruling Party of Regions, as well as Ukrainian flags, during a rally on Kiev's European Square on December 14.

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Ukraine protests – Anti-government protesters guard a barricade designed to keep police from evicting them from Independence Square on Friday, December 13.

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Ukraine protests – Protesters stand at a barricade in Kiev on December 13.

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Ukraine protests – Protesters hold Ukrainian national flags as they picket the Ukrainian House during round-table talks between Yanukovych, former presidents and leaders of the opposition on December 13.

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Ukraine protests – Riot police storm barricades set up by pro-EU protesters in Independence Square on Wednesday, December 11.

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Ukraine protests – Riot police move against protesters on Independence Square around 2 a.m. December 11. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry expressed "disgust" over the crackdown.

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Ukraine protests – A protester calls for attention inside Kiev's City Hall after riot police were forced out from blocking the front door on December 11.

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Ukraine protests – Police enter Independence Square on December 11.

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Ukraine protests – Riot police officers block the entrance of Kiev's City Hall as protesters pour water from windows and throw smoke grenades at them on December 11.

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Ukraine protests – A young police officer guards a roadblock on Institutskaya Street near the presidential area in Kiev on December 11.

Ukraine protests – A demonstrator holds a torn portrait of Yanukovych on November 29.

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Ukraine protests – Demonstrators hold hands during a rally on November 29.

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Ukraine protests – Demonstrators take to the streets in the center of Kiev on November 28.

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There had been talks of a loan from the International Monetary Fund and closer ties to the European Union but those discussions have since stalled with Yanukovych instead opening talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin over possible much-needed loans.

Of that Putin meeting, Klitschko said: "No one from the media or among Ukraine's citizens knows the true aim of this visit and we will only know afterwards. I'm sure that the visit is wrong and nobody knows the conditions of these negotiations."

Klitschko has entered politics under the befitting Udar (Punch) party banner, a nod to his illustrious sporting career.

In a statement, the WBC paid tribute to the boxer following his decision: "With the current extreme and delicate political situation in Ukraine, Vitali has answered his country's call to fight for human rights and equality. Accordingly, Vitali will not be able to provide the WBC with a predictable timeframe to return to the ring.

"In light of these considerations, the WBC Supreme Council and the WBC Board of Governors have voted unanimously to name Vitali Klitschko WBC Heavyweight Champion Emeritus.

"Very few fights have received such an honorable distinction, which will entitle Vitali to fight for the WBC heavyweight championship when he is ready to return to the ring."

Following the WBC's announcement, Klitschko added: "I thank the WBC and its president Jose Sulaiman for the support in our battle for democracy and freedom in Ukraine."